Suella Braverman ’emboldened’ far-right ahead of Armistice Day clashes, opponents claim
Suella Braverman is facing calls to resign after far-right protesters who claimed they would ‘protect’ the Cenotaph clashed with police in London on Armistice Day.
At least 82 people were detained on Saturday after far-right groups and football hooligans clashed with police near the Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall.
The Home Secretary had repeatedly claimed that the Cenotaph and Armistice commemorations could be at risk from pro-Palestinian protesters if a march was allowed to go ahead on Saturday, which she referred to as a “hate march”.
In an article in The Times earlier this week, which is thought to have been published without sign-off by Downing Street, she claimed: “They are an assertion of primacy by certain groups — particularly Islamists — of the kind we are more used to seeing in Northern Ireland. Also disturbingly reminiscent of Ulster are the reports that some of Saturday’s march group organisers have links to terrorist groups, including Hamas.”
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, whose in-laws were previously trapped in Gaza, said Ms Braverman had encouraged the mob seen on Saturday with her inflammatory remarks.
He said: “The far right has been emboldened by the Home Secretary. She has spent her week fanning the flames of division. They are now attacking the police on Armistice Day.
“The Home Secretary’s position is untenable. She must resign.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan added: “The scenes of disorder we witnessed by the far-right at the Cenotaph are a direct result of the Home Secretary’s words. The police’s job has been made much harder.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called for “calm” at today’s march and accused Ms Braverman of fuelling tensions during Saturday’s protests.
“Everyone must reflect on the impact of their words and actions. It is the responsibility of all of us to bring people together over this weekend not divide and inflame,” she wrote.
Mr Sunak has so far backed his Home Secretary, amid calls from senior MPs to sack her.
There has been speculation that the Prime Minister will carry out a ministerial reshuffle, which could see Ms Braverman moved, but not before next week’s Supreme Court ruling on the Rwanda deportation policy championed by her.
Layla Moran, a Liberal Democrat MP who has family in Gaza, said Mr Sunak is to blame for any far-right violence today.
She said: “As the police in central London work to contain the far-right, and everyone starts to blame Suella Braverman, just remember who chose to not only give her the job but also chose not to sack her.
“Rishi Sunak is as, if not more, responsible for what happens today”.
Skirmishes broke out as police attempted to stop a crowd of people bearing St George’s flags from reaching the Cenotaph war memorial.
The Met Police said: “While the two minutes’ silence was marked respectfully and without incident on Whitehall, officers have faced aggression from counter-protesters who are in the area in significant numbers.”
The Met later said they had detained a “large group” of counter-protesters near Westminster Bridge who are believed to be part of the group involved in the disorder.
Further clashes between people chanting “England ’til I die” and officers took place near Westminster underground station and in Chinatown.
In her article in The Times, Miss Braverman claimed officers “play favourites” towards pro-Palestinian protesters, was disowned by Downing Street and provoked fury among Tory MPs.
She also said right-wing and nationalist protesters are treated differently and compared Pro-Palestinian marchers.
Her remarks came after she sparked widespread anger earlier in the week after she declared rough sleeping was largely driven by people “coming from abroad” who lived on the streets as a “lifestyle choice”.
